Caring for Your Parents As They Get Older
I often as the two letters below, baby boomers caring for elderly parents and trying to find care that meets the unique needs of older people. Finding the right type of care can seem daunting, but little information and some of the most important resources can help enormously.
Note: A good shower chair, bath seat or transfer system can help with bathing the elderly or disabled. There are models which can be used over a conventional shower step and a shower over bath.
Q: My 81 year old mother recently fell and was taken to the emergency room. The doctor who saw him, she suggested that start to see a geriatrician. What is a geriatrician and why would she see?
A: A geriatrician is a doctor with special training and expertise in the care of the elderly, especially those with complex health problems. Like children, older adults unique needs of health care. As we age our bodies change in many ways that affect our health. Among other things we are more likely to develop chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, and the need for multiple medications (all potential side effects). About 80 percent of adults 65 or older have at least one chronic condition and 50 percent have at least two. As we get older it is harder for us to recover from illness.
Q: I tried to find a geriatrician for my parents, but they have not had any luck. Why are not more geriatricians? What should I do?
This day is less than 7000 practicing geriatricians in the U.S. That 's about geriatrician for every 5000 adults aged 65 years. Find a geriatrician is likely to become even more difficult over the next 20 years, when the nation's 77 million baby boomers reach retirement age. To prepare for this "Aging Boom," we need to support programs, as well as train geriatricians and better prepare for all health care providers can care for the elderly. Until recently, the federal government, "Title VII" geriatric health care program has done just that, supporting geriatric education centers, and youth in the Medical School faculty who trained medical students, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other providers can better meet the health needs of the elderly. Unfortunately, Congress eliminated all funding for this program at the end of 2005. We need to restore this funding - because of all older Americans.
Note: A good shower chair, bath seat or transfer system can help with bathing the elderly or disabled. There are models which can be used over a conventional shower step and a shower over bath.
Q: My 81 year old mother recently fell and was taken to the emergency room. The doctor who saw him, she suggested that start to see a geriatrician. What is a geriatrician and why would she see?
A: A geriatrician is a doctor with special training and expertise in the care of the elderly, especially those with complex health problems. Like children, older adults unique needs of health care. As we age our bodies change in many ways that affect our health. Among other things we are more likely to develop chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, and the need for multiple medications (all potential side effects). About 80 percent of adults 65 or older have at least one chronic condition and 50 percent have at least two. As we get older it is harder for us to recover from illness.
Q: I tried to find a geriatrician for my parents, but they have not had any luck. Why are not more geriatricians? What should I do?
This day is less than 7000 practicing geriatricians in the U.S. That 's about geriatrician for every 5000 adults aged 65 years. Find a geriatrician is likely to become even more difficult over the next 20 years, when the nation's 77 million baby boomers reach retirement age. To prepare for this "Aging Boom," we need to support programs, as well as train geriatricians and better prepare for all health care providers can care for the elderly. Until recently, the federal government, "Title VII" geriatric health care program has done just that, supporting geriatric education centers, and youth in the Medical School faculty who trained medical students, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other providers can better meet the health needs of the elderly. Unfortunately, Congress eliminated all funding for this program at the end of 2005. We need to restore this funding - because of all older Americans.
Topic : Health Care Jobs
Genre : Mental/Health
